New Jersey’s Jason Groome fell so far Thursday night in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, that not only did the hometown Phillies pass on the 6-foot-5 left-hander with the first pick, but so did the next 10 teams, until the Red Sox — his favorite team — took him at No. 12.

Groome, a hard-throwing southpaw with devastating stuff across the board from Barnegat High School in South Jersey, was considered the top prospect in the draft. But he became the fifth high-school pitcher taken amid rumors of maturity issues and high financial demands.

“There are other issues with this young man causing him to slide,” MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd, the former Rockies general manager, said during the draft coverage.

“I really didn’t feel that bad because everything happens for a reason,” Groome said on a conference call. “I always said I wanted to end up somewhere where I’m comfortable and feel protected. There’s no better spot to do that than Boston. They’re my favorite team.”

A high-level scout from a team picking in the top 10 said there were “too many unknowns” with Groome. Groome’s family and his advisor, Jeff Randazzo, had a high asking price, the scout said, that may have contributed to his slide. It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox, with only $6,997,400 to spend on their picks in the first 10 rounds, can sign him.

Boston general manager Mike Hazen said “they are hopeful and encouraged” they can get it done. The Red Sox got to know Groome during the draft process, and aren’t worried about those reported character issues.

“We know who Jason Groome is,” Hazen said.

Groome initially was expected to attend the draft at the MLB Studios in Secaucus, NJ, but changed plans. Perhaps, his camp saw his fall coming.

Groome returned to Barnegat High after spending his junior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., but was suspended for 30 days by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for violating its transfer rule, and had his first two starts wiped off the books because of his suspension. He finished the year with a 2-3 record, though he pitched to a 0.77 ERA, allowing only 15 hits and struck out 90 in 39 ²/₃ innings.

On Tuesday, Groome decommitted from Vanderbilt and committed to Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., which would allow him to reenter the draft next year if he doesn’t sign with the Red Sox (instead of having to spend three years at Vanderbilt). But he made it sound like he plans to put pen to paper.

“That’s something me and my advisor are going to discuss,” he said. “Money really doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy. I get to start the next chapter in my life, and that’s playing professional baseball.”